Xeikon launches hybrid print and converting presses

Hybrid presses can be defined as label presses that incorporate two or more printing processes –digital and conventional – in-line with finishing units such as varnishing, spot color printing, slitting, die cutting, and different embellishment techniques. 

Hybrid solutions benefit a label printer and converter with medium to long runs with either limited variation in converting (die cutting, slitting) and/or the need to add conventionally produced features like spot varnish or cold foil.

Today the standalone digital presses and standalone converting line address the largest part of the market. To expand the growth potential of digital, new solutions are needed. Unavoidably, this will convert conventional printed work into digital production through cost optimization. 

Think of larger volumes of SKUs with the same die-cut shape, full-color jobs that hold a static embellishing element. These can be printed more effectively with a conventional process and then enriched with digital full-color printing. 

Trends in the market indicate luxury brands benefit from what their print provider offers, shorter runs, more versions and variations, variable text or graphics, and personalization allowing much greater freedom of creativity. 

Nevertheless, they do not want to give in to a brand identity that can be visualized through embellishing elements. Unlike luxury brands, promotional brands are also looking to find better ways of connecting with consumers through eCommerce.

Xeikon has launched a fully digital hybrid solution based on its (1) digital press (Cheetah or Panther series), the recently developed (2) Xeikon Label Converting Unit (LCU), and (3) Xeikon’s X-800 digital front-end. This solution can be configured to the need of the converter and becomes a powerful production system enabling label converters to step up their productivity whilst remaining fully flexible for all their customers’ needs.

The main values of our hybrid label solution are –

“ At Xeikon, we take customer input seriously. Our solutions are cloud-connected providing us with a lot of data on how the equipment is performing. This results in the ability to provide more automation in combining production runs to increase efficiency,” explains Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s vice president of Marketing. “That is why, along with the presses, we develop fully digital converting and embellishing products such as the Xeikon LCU, which can be configured into hybrid print and converting solutions,” he adds.

Xeikon hybrid solutions can hold both Xeikon’s Cheetah (dry-toner) as well as Panther (UV inkjet) technologies hence all end-use applications can be addressed through this offering.

Dry-toner is the proven technology for all applications requiring adherence to high food safety standards while delivering the highest, matte-finished quality and achieving high quality on standard natural paper substrates (wine and spirits). Today, the second-generation Cheetah technology is used in Xeikon’s current dry-toner digital presses.

Xeikon’s UV inkjet Panther Technology was introduced in 2017, with a specific focus on labels across industries requiring high durability, including the health and beauty markets. These applications make use of the key benefits of the unique features of UV inkjet such as scratch, scuff, and rub resistance.

“ Some of our customers call a hybrid solution the best of both worlds,” continues Filip Weymans. ”All developments at Xeikon fit into our mantra of digitizing label manufacturing with the purpose of enabling label converters to develop a profitable and sustainable future-proof business.”

The new hybrid printing solution, based on the Xeikon PX3300 (Panther), is going to be featured during Labelexpo Americas, 13 to 15 September, in Rosemont, IL.  Xeikon is showing its presence in Hall F, Stand 5703.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the country-wide lockdown on 25 March 2020. It will be two years tomorrow as I write this. What have we learned in this time? Maybe the meaning of resilience since small companies like us have had to rely on our resources and the forbearance of our employees as we have struggled to produce our trade platforms.

The print and packaging industries have been fortunate, although the commercial printing industry is still to recover. We have learned more about the digital transformation that affects commercial printing and packaging. Ultimately digital will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future.

Web analytics show that we now have readership in North America and Europe amongst the 90 countries where our five platforms reach. Our traffic which more than doubled in 2020, has at times gone up by another 50% in 2021. And advertising which had fallen to pieces in 2020 and 2021, has started its return since January 2022.

As the economy approaches real growth with unevenness and shortages a given, we are looking forward to the PrintPack India exhibition in Greater Noida. We are again appointed to produce the Show Daily on all five days of the show from 26 to 30 May 2022.

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